SENSOR ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME
First Claim
1. A sensor arrangement for use with an energy storage device, comprising:
- a controller;
a first sensor unit being coupled to a first node of the energy storage device and to the controller, and the first sensor unit provides the controller with a first sensor reading that pertains to the first node; and
a second sensor unit also being coupled to the first node of the energy storage device and to the controller, and the second sensor unit also provides the controller with a second sensor reading that pertains to the first node;
wherein the controller uses the first and second sensor readings to evaluate the first node of the energy storage device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor arrangement and method that may be used with a variety of different energy storage devices, including battery packs found in hybrid vehicles, battery electric vehicles, and other types of vehicles. An exemplary sensor arrangement includes a number of sensor units, a controller, and several connections, wherein two or more sensor units are coupled to each node of the battery pack and are coupled to the controller over different connections. An exemplary method is divided into two aspects: an error detection aspect and an error resolution aspect. Because the sensor arrangement provides multiple sensor readings for each node being evaluated, the method can enable the sensor arrangement to continue operating accurately and with redundancy even if it experiences a loss of one or more sensor units.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A sensor arrangement for use with an energy storage device, comprising:
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a controller; a first sensor unit being coupled to a first node of the energy storage device and to the controller, and the first sensor unit provides the controller with a first sensor reading that pertains to the first node; and a second sensor unit also being coupled to the first node of the energy storage device and to the controller, and the second sensor unit also provides the controller with a second sensor reading that pertains to the first node; wherein the controller uses the first and second sensor readings to evaluate the first node of the energy storage device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of using a sensor arrangement that evaluates an energy storage device, comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving a first sensor reading from a first sensor unit at a controller, wherein the first sensor reading pertains to a first node of the energy storage device; (b) receiving a second sensor reading from a second sensor unit at the controller, wherein the second sensor reading also pertains to the first node of the energy storage device; and (c) using the first and second sensor readings to detect an error with the sensor arrangement and/or the energy storage device. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of using a sensor arrangement that evaluates an energy storage device, comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving a first sensor reading from a first sensor unit at a controller, wherein the first sensor reading pertains to a first node of the energy storage device; (b) receiving a second sensor reading from a second sensor unit at the controller, wherein the second sensor reading also pertains to the first node of the energy storage device; and (c) using the first and second sensor readings to resolve an error with the sensor arrangement and/or the energy storage device. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification